The Washington Wizards selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Thursday night. Dybantsa, 19, led the nation in scoring during his sole college season, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for BYU across 35 contests. He is the first player in BYU history to be taken first overall in the NBA Draft.
Dybantsa joins a Wizards roster that includes stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis. The team finished last season with a 17-65 record and has not made the playoffs since 2021. Young recently signed a four-year, $212 million extension, and Davis is also committed to the franchise, raising hopes for a turnaround. Young expressed optimism about the team's future, stating, "Imagine the Wizards as the No.1 team in the East next year. Trust me, I'm probably just entering my prime."
Standing at 6ft 9in with a seven-foot wingspan, Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Tracy McGrady from scouts for his scoring ability. He has also earned three gold medals with USA Basketball. Dybantsa was considered the favorite to be the top pick, though Kansas guard Darryn Peterson was also seen as a strong contender. Peterson's camp had expressed confidence in his chances for the No. 1 spot leading up to the draft.
The Utah Jazz selected Peterson with the second overall pick. The 6ft 4in guard averaged 20.2 points at Kansas but was limited to 24 games due to injury and illness. The Memphis Grizzlies chose Duke forward Cameron Boozer, son of former NBA player Carlos Boozer, with the third pick. Boozer, a 6ft 8in freshman, averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds at Duke and was named AP National Player of the Year.
The Chicago Bulls rounded out the top four by selecting North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. The 6ft 8in freshman's college season was cut short by injury, but he is recognized as one of the draft class's most athletic players.
Other first-round selections included the Los Angeles Clippers taking Georgia Tech guard Keaton Wagler fifth, the Brooklyn Nets selecting Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. sixth, and the Sacramento Kings drafting Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. seventh. The Atlanta Hawks picked Houston guard Kingston Flemings eighth, the Dallas Mavericks selected Michigan center Morez Johnson Jr. ninth, and the Milwaukee Bucks chose Arizona guard Brayden Burries tenth.
The Golden State Warriors drafted Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the eleventh pick. Lendeborg was a key player in Michigan's national championship run. The Oklahoma City Thunder completed the lottery picks by selecting Michigan center Aday Mara with the 12th selection.
This marked a historic night for the Michigan Wolverines, who had never had more than one player selected in the lottery prior to this draft, with Johnson, Lendeborg, and Mara all chosen within the top 12 picks. The draft also involved several trades, with players like Nate Ament, Bennett Stirtz, Ebuka Okorie, Karim Lopez, Cameron Carr, Sergio De Larrea, Tarris Reed Jr., Joshua Jefferson, and Alex Karaban being moved to different teams via trades made on draft night.